How to Pack (and Stay Organized) for a Road Trip

Molly Maid|June 18, 2018

Road trips make traveling with your family affordable. You can bring whatever you want without worrying about baggage restrictions at the airport. Plus, you can pace yourself and make stops along the way to your destination. Soak up all the sights our great nation has to offer with a family road trip this summer!

The trick is to keep your car clean and make finding certain items easier as you travel. With this guide on how to pack for a road trip, never again will you misplace or accidentally ruin belongings while on the road.

Know What to Pack for a Road Trip

In addition to packing the clothing and toiletries you’ll need when you reach your destination, you must also bring items to keep your family safe and comfortable in the car.

Food and Drinks

You can save money by bringing food from home. Plan to at least pack a sack lunch for the first day, plus snacks to enjoy between meals. Here are some good go-to foods for road trips:

Sandwiches

Beef jerky

Durable fruits, like apples and oranges

Dried fruit and nuts

Protein bars

Pretzels and crackers

Yogurt and cheese sticks

Water, soda bottles, and juice boxes

Entertainment

Long hours in the car get tiresome, especially for kids. Keep everyone entertained by allowing each passenger to bring an activity bag. Here are the types of things to include:

Coloring books

Travel games

Books or e-readers

MP3 players and headphones

Tablets or laptops

Portable DVD players

Car chargers for electronic devices

Emergency Supplies

Even if your car is reliable, always pack emergency supplies just in case. Here’s what to bring:

Spare tire

Jumper cables

Blankets and sleeping bags

First aid kit

Paper maps in case of poor GPS reception

Documents

Don’t leave on your road trip without these documents in hand:

User’s manual for the car you’re driving

Car insurance and registration cards

Addresses of the hotels where you’re staying

Crucial contact phone numbers

Useful Tips to Stay Organized on a Road Trip

With your packing list completed and your bags packed, the last step is to load the car in an organized manner and find what you need – when you need it. These useful tips will help you stay organized on a road trip.

Compartmentalize belongings by using small totes, zipped bags, or boxes to store like items together.

Keep in-demand items in easy-to-reach places, such as by your feet, in the center console, or tucked inside seatback pockets. Pack any items you won’t need until you arrive in the trunk.

Place refrigerated food items in a small cooler or insulated lunchbox. Place all other food in a paper bag.

When loading the trunk, pack suitcases vertically. Place loose or oddly sized items in last.

Do your efforts to stay organized on a road trip translate to the rest of your house and yard? Then, think about how you can vacation without worrying about the lawn. Our fellow Neighborly brand partner, The Grounds Guys, can help you plant a beautiful, low-water landscape that corresponds to where you live.

If you find cleaning and organizing to be an unbearable task, get help from Molly Maid. We offer the services you need, from one-time deep cleaning to ongoing assistance with household chores.

At times, cleaning the inside of your car can seem rather pointless—especially for busy families and those who are always on the go. Within days, your car somehow accumulates a variety of wrappers, smudges, crumbs and sticky cup holders. And even after a tiresome clean, your car still doesn’t have that new car look, feel and smell. Next time, come prepared with the essential items to give your car the thorough clean that it desperately needs. After all, your car works hard; give it the cleaning it deserves! And one thing we’ve learned from decades in the cleaning business: If …